Crews were still filming the show's final season as of late December, Deadline reported.

HBO said in a news release Thursday that David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, David Nutter and Miguel Sapochnik will direct the new episodes, alongside writers that include Benioff, Weiss, Bryan Cogman and Dave Hill. Benioff, Weiss, Carolyn Strauss and Frank Doelger will be the show's executive producers. Bryan Cogman, Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis and series author George R.R. Martin will serve as co-executive producers.

Also on Thursday, Syfy confirmed it ordered another series based on a Martin-penned book, Nightflyers. Martin will not work on that project because of the exclusive nature of his HBO contract.